Greenbrier Classic: Sneaky Scott Stallings Steals Sneads Old Home

White Sulphur Springs, WV—Driving in on Sam Snead Boulevard (Route 60), the quaint town of White Sulphur Springs is understated.  There are a couple of small-town America cafes, a bank, a used car lot and then, on the right, the mountain of a resort known as The Greenbrier.

Scott Stallings knows the drive.  He and his wife Jennifer came through the tiny town on Monday. He's leaving on the same boulevard with a championship trophy.  The 26-year-old overcame the Allegheny mountain-like leaderboard Sunday by climbing one spot while others repelled down.  He finished with six birdies on the closing nine to tie for the lead with Bill Haas and Bob Estes at 10-under in the second-annual Greenbrier Classic. 

He used a Bible verse (Philippians 3: 13-14) as inspiration.  "Forgetting what's behind pressing on toward the goal.  I just told myself that the whole entire day," said Stallings.

While interviewed by CBS's Peter Kostis moments after making the winning putt, he opened his yardage book to reveal the Augusta National pencil he used to mark his yardage book.  Now, he is a participant in the 2012 Masters next April.

Heading into Sunday, Anthony Kim figured to be the frontrunner.  Kim was a shot ahead of Stallings but failed to make a move on the Old White TPC course.  Gary Woodland and Webb Simpson, two shots behind Kim in the final round, also missed opportunities to make a run.  

Not Stallings.  

He seized the day with a rock 'n' roll back nine that included a scrambling par on the 71st hole.  Stalling, having to wait almost 30 minutes on the tee box, pushed his tee shot into a tree on the right side.  The ball caromed into the hazard.  He advanced the ball short of the green, where he got up and down for a par.  On the par-three 18th, he hit a nine-iron.  He made the putt to create a three-way playoff with Haas and Estes, who were hitting their respective clubs for another crack at the 18th hole.

Several players had their chances on Sunday.  Brendon de Jonge was heeded by several "Go Hokies" chants to make a charge but fell short.  Kim, Simpson and Jimmy Walker danced around the leaderboard but missed darting opportunities.  

As the playoff began, Stallings seemed like a kid of destiny.  He lives in nearby Knoxville, TN.  

Stallings did not need any practice.  He was the last to hit on the first playoff hole.  His ball ended up just a few feet outside, where he made birdie almost 15 minutes earlier.  Once Haas and Estes missed their putts for birdie, the stage was set for Stallings. He nailed it.  

Sam Snead would have been proud.